Coupled with previous reports of genetic monogamy in
Hippocampus spp. (H. subelongatus: N = 15 males; Jones et al.
(1998); N = 14 males; Kvarnemo et al. (2000)), it appears
increasingly likely that behavioural and/or physiological
constraints associated with male pregnancy severely restrict
opportunities for multiple mating in seahorses. Although
further studies of wild seahorses seem unlikely to conclusively
address this possibility given the large sample
sizes required (see above), experimental manipulation of
reproductive opportunities in captive-bred seahorses should
help to illuminate the factors responsible for the apparent
lack of multiple mating in these species.